# Uniform Interface

> A rule or precondition that every resource in an API uses the same verbs, response shapes and error format.

Record: `architecture:uniform-interface`
Kind: constraint
Layer: [Contracts Core](https://banes-lab.com/records/layer/contracts-core.md)
Severity: recommended
Scope: API, resource boundary
Canonical: https://banes-lab.com/ontology#architecture-uniform-interface

Listed in [Architecture principles](https://banes-lab.com/api/records/architecture.md), after [Interoperability](https://banes-lab.com/records/architecture/interoperability.md) and before [Consumer-Driven Contracts](https://banes-lab.com/records/architecture/consumer-driven-contracts.md).

## Repair

- Refactored by: Normalize API, Standardize Error Model
- Detected by: API lint violations
- Violated by: inconsistent verbs, response shapes, error formats
- Measured by: endpoint consistency score
- Enforced by: API style guide, OpenAPI linting

## Requires

- [Consistent Semantics](https://banes-lab.com/records/lexicon/consistent-semantics.md)
- [Stable Contracts](https://banes-lab.com/records/lexicon/stable-contracts.md)

## Reinforces

- [Principle of Least Surprise](https://banes-lab.com/records/architecture/principle-of-least-surprise.md)

## Enables

- [API Usability](https://banes-lab.com/records/lexicon/api-usability.md)

## Conflicts with

- [Ad-Hoc Endpoints](https://banes-lab.com/records/lexicon/ad-hoc-endpoints.md)
- [Chatty Interface](https://banes-lab.com/records/architecture/chatty-interface.md)

## In tension with

- [Specialized Endpoints](https://banes-lab.com/records/lexicon/specialized-endpoints.md)

## Tensions

- [Uniform Interface / Specialized Endpoints](https://banes-lab.com/records/tension/specialized-endpoints-uniform-interface.md)

## Severity

- [recommended](https://banes-lab.com/records/vocabulary/severity-recommended.md)

## Category

- [Contracts / Interfaces / Compatibility](https://banes-lab.com/records/architecture-category/contracts-interfaces-compatibility.md)

## Reinforced by

- [Composite Pattern](https://banes-lab.com/records/architecture/composite-pattern.md)

## Linked from

- [Anti-patterns](https://banes-lab.com/ontology/principles/architecture-category-anti-patterns.md)
- [Structural Patterns](https://banes-lab.com/ontology/principles/architecture-category-structural-patterns.md)
- [Schema / Canonical Data / Semantics](https://banes-lab.com/ontology/principles/architecture-category-schema-canonical-data-semantics.md)
- [Contracts / Interfaces / Compatibility](https://banes-lab.com/ontology/lexicon/lexicon-category-contracts-interfaces-compatibility.md)
- [Core Vocabulary](https://banes-lab.com/ontology/lexicon/lexicon-category-core-vocabulary.md)
- [Severity levels](https://banes-lab.com/ontology/schema/the-vocabulary-severity.md)
- [The resolutions](https://banes-lab.com/ontology/schema/the-resolutions.md)